Sunday opened with Eugenie Scott. I’ve listened to her interviews so many times on the SGU, I felt like I knew her already. She defined the different strains of creationism and really brought home the need to safeguard standards of science in education.
These are champions http://ncse.com/
Tanya Smith discussed her efforts with the Atheist Alliance International, what VALIANT EFFORTS THEY ARE. http://atheistalliance.org/
I missed some of Annie Laurie Gaylor because, to be truthful, I was slightly completely asleep, having been irresponsible and beer the night before.
Sam. Harris. Jedi Master. I have it on good authority that this talk was a sort of teaser for the themes of his next book. I don’t want to say too much because it really has to be experienced. We meditated during the talk. I was hypnotized by Sam Harris.
I was hypnotized by Sam Harris. Please let that be a meme. Someone make a t-shirt.
Another plug I’m going to give to the filmmaking team, Emma Mckenna and Craig Foster who premiered their atheist themed short film Parrot.
http://www.parrotshortfilm.com/
I really loved it because it really gives an empathetic hook into what is more common than plenty realise, the closet atheist. People who understand atheism or humanism intellectually, but have never actually met, befriended, or affected for such a person, should absolutely watch this film. I can even imagine it being used as a sort of ice breaker for people needing to come out to their loved ones.
Next up, my friend Jason Ball. I remember the days where Jason was a mere mortal. I know, I’m getting old.
PZ Myers. I can’t get over how amazing his talk was and I’m theistically furious that I have to wait for the dvd release. Just buy the dvd. Seriously.
The Christopher Hitchens tribute was very moving. Dawkins and Krauss spoke first, and then the three horsemen plus Ayaan Hirsi Ali. They discussed whether or not we should work with liberal religious groups. Someone made a joke about how we fill the Santa Claus shaped hole people have in their lives after losing their faith. Dan Dennett.
I’m going to wrap up this blog with a summation of my personal experience and impression of the thing. Take a moment and consider, across the media, television, radio, online, and on billboards, and just in conversation, how much information we come across on a daily basis. Then regard how much of that is useless or dishonest or doesn’t actually matter. What’s left? Some gems of thought stuff, that profundity that’s so amazing that won’t let us sleep. Imagine a whole weekend of that.
There was so much bullshit caught up in my head before this convention. Baggage and nonsense that we don’t actually need. Never felt fresher than after being in the company of these brilliant folk. Every conversation was worth having and on sound premises, and you can argue that they’re not the last word but that’s not the point. Every conversation mattered. We need to live lives that matter.
So pick a cause any cause, atheism, secularism, humanism, feminism, human rights, environmentalism, make your point and talk about it. Caring is a full time job. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Tell your nosy neighbour. Make the point that the more sophisticated of us mammals don’t have to talk about bullshit all the time.
Maybe go to Shelley Segal’s An Atheist Album launch tonight. She performed on Saturday night is totally the thing.
www.shelleysegal.com
http://www.facebook.com/events/170571113060505/
I’m going to finish this blog with a quote from Joss Whedon’s television series Angel (episode 2x16)
“If there’s no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters… , then all that matters is what we do. ‘Cause that’s all there is. What we do. Now. Today…… I want to help because, I don’t think people should suffer as they do. Because, if there’s no bigger meaning, then the smallest act of kindness is the greatest thing in the world.”
A big thank you to all the speakers, organisers and volunteers, without whom this convention could not have happened. Bring on GAC 2014
